Day 82 – Ocean Reef Outing Part 2

Well, I don’t have much to add for today. Carol and I didn’t make it very far on the Reader’s Digest Florida Keys drive as North Key Largo was our only stop. We spent the morning laying out by the pool at Buccaneer Island and tooling around The Fishing Village. Shakey and Jennalie joined us for lunch at The Raw Bar.

The afternoon consisted of us lounging around the house pool, watching some golf, walking the dogs, and watching some football. We had such a laid back day, I don’t even have any pictures. I’ll have to borrow some from Carol.

Carol is a friend I met fifteen years ago while playing soccer. Over the years, we’ve played on several teams together – indoor, outdoor, women’s, co-ed, 6v6, 11v11, tournaments. We co-captained a women’s team for ten plus years before relinquishing our duties to join an Over 30 team, as nearing 40 we were competing against players 20 years our junior. For work, Carol specializes in wellness and is an expert in her field. I feel lucky to have her as friend, and I’m so glad she was able to join me on my journey. I’m certain Shakey and Jennalie’s winter home was more enjoyable for her than VANilla.

Shakey’s real name is Joel. I’m told his fellow fraternity brothers nicknamed Shakey after a game of poker at the University of Texas Kappa Sig house…the stakes were high. Shakey and Jennalie live in Michigan where he owns a paper company that manufactures high quality paper squares used in animal cages at laboratories. Pharmaceutical companies, universities, and research companies strive for the most controlled environment possible for their specimens. They need paper from trees that haven’t been sprayed with chemicals, that can be delivered in precise measurements, and can be traced to each batch produced if necessary. I’ve never heard of such a market, but Shakey’s product fills the need. I’ve enjoyed watching the show, How It’s Made, but mostly because I’m fascinated by the machines designed to make the product. Shakey’s company has six identical machines that specialize in cutting the paper which were modified from a machine used to cut jeans. The jean material is used in Crane stationery and U.S. Money. I didn’t know Crane supplied the paper for U.S. money…simply fascinating.

Shakey and Jennalie were such gracious hosts – touring us around the island, buying our meals, taking us fishing. It was so nice to see them and we had a wonderful visit. Thanks for opening your home to us! ETB